A legal battle over a giant inflatable art installation continues to blow up with organizers now suing a Singapore nonprofit for damages.
AllRightsReserved Ltd., the Hong Kong-based organizer of last month’s Kaws:Holiday Singapore exhibition, yesterday filed a defamation suit against The Ryan Foundation, whose earlier legal action had caused the exhibition to miss two days of its short run. The foundation, which had originally wanted the be the one to bring the artist to the city, had accused them of violating intellectual property rights and confidentiality.
The defamation suit accuses the nonprofit and its founders, Ryan Su and director Adrian Chan, of making unspecified “statements and publications” against them, it said in a news release.
The 42-meter installation by American artist Brian Donnelly showcased his signature Companion character in a reclined position embracing a miniature version of itself. Various versions have also visited Seoul, Taipei, Hong Kong, Japan, the United Kingdom, and even been sent into space.
“We are taking legal advice and will respond at the appropriate time,” Chan told Coconuts this morning.
Last month, when their dispute burst into public view, Su said that his nonprofit had been negotiating in 2019 to bring the exhibition to Singapore, but it didn’t work out. He did not explained why.
The nonprofit convinced a court to issue an injunction which blocked the event from opening for the first two of its eight-day run starting Nov. 14. The court quickly vacated the order, and the show carried on as planned.
AllRightsReserved said it would also seek damages for the two days it was shut.
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